20 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

where his brain ought to have been, he had life

enough to snap at the boat-hook with such force

as to leave marks of his teeth on the iron head. A third shot close under the eye finished him, and

with much labour he was hoisted into the boat, and

from thence on to the steamer. On measuring him,

he was found to be a couple of inches under thirteen

feet a real monster. When we halted for good

that evening, the carcase was skinned and devoured

(entrails and all) by some natives from a neighbouring

village. B took possession of the hide, and put it

on the paddle-box to dry in the sun. When the

wind was ahead the stench was really grand, and

drove us off the after-deck.

That same evening we resolved to go and have a

look at Abu Simbl, which lay about a mile and a

half down stream. We pulled down easily enough

in an unloaded whaler, and landed at once. Though we had caught a glimpse of the temple from the

steamer, its full grandeur did not strike us till we had

got close up to it. The peculiarity of it is that the